How clean do you think your home is? Even if you tidy up on a daily basis that doesn’t mean it’s completely free of toxins. Unfortunately there are many that could be lurking in your home and contributing to a decline in your health and overall well-being. If you’re interested in getting rid of these so your home is cleaner than ever before, there are many things you can do. In fact, below you’ll find seven simple steps that can help you get started. Follow these and you’ll be on your way to a detoxed home that you feel great about living in!
1. Dust Often
How often do you dust the stand your television is on or even the shelves in your bedrooms? These are areas that most everyone ignores for several months until there’s a clear buildup for dirt. Unfortunately this can contribute to everything from asthma to other health issues because dust is made up of tiny particles that can get stuck in your lungs and other areas of the body. By dusting more frequently, such as one day per week instead, you may notice that you begin to feel a whole lot better. In fact, some people even notice that they have fewer allergies because they dust more often and have less dirt around the home as a result.
Tip: To further help eliminate dust, try to keep shoes contained to one area of your home. An added perk of this is that your floors will remain cleaner as well!
2. Use Natural Cleaning Products
If you’re used to cleaning with everyday products you purchase at the grocery store, you may want to think again. The chemicals that are in these can stick around long after you’re finished cleaning, which can contribute to many health problems for you and your family. The good news is that there are a wide variety of natural cleaning solutions you can buy at most stores today. On a budget? Don’t worry! You can even make your own cleaning solutions with some everyday products, such as white vinegar and baking soda. Check out this article on using pineapple as a natural cleaning ingredient.
Tip: Although cleaning products are major culprits of toxins, don’t forget about other household items such as toothpaste, shampoo, and conditioner. Whenever possible, try and go for natural products that have ingredients you can read.
3. Invest in an Air Purifier
No matter how hard you try to keep dirt and dust out of your home, it will always manage to find its way in. This is why it’s beneficial to invest in an air purifier that will continuously work towards getting rid of toxins, allergens, and chemicals that are floating around in your breathing air. To make these as effective as possible, place one in each room of the home, especially in the largest. Most of these don’t make loud noises so you won’t even notice they’re around.
Tip: Don’t forget to change the filter as often as is necessary (this information should be included in the user manual)
4. Clean Your Water
Water filtration systems might be investments, but they are investments that are well worth it. Not only will one of these give you a break from expensive and environmentally-unfriendly water bottles, it will also provide you with better tasting water. In addition to this, the water you drink will be much cleaner because filtration systems tend to filter out many more chemicals and toxins than traditional water bottles have.
Tip: Make sure you clean out the filter regularly to keep your water clean and healthy.
5. Make Sure Ventilation Works
How is the ventilation in your basement and bathrooms? These are some of the most important rooms to have excellent ventilation in because they deal with the most moisture. If you don’t have vents, especially in the bathroom, then mold and mildew are much more likely to grow. Both of these can be incredibly dangerous, including black mold that can lead to a variety of health problems. If you aren’t sure ventilation is working properly, have a contractor come by to take a look. This will be affordable and give you peace of mind.
Tip: Clean your vents regularly because a lot of dust and grime can build up around them and become fire hazards.
6. Check for Lead and Radon
Lead and radon might be problems from the past, but they can be very real for homeowners who live in older homes. If you’re concerned about either of these affecting your property, then hire an environmental company to come and do testing for you. This won’t take long and because they have professional tools, it will be far more accurate than any tests you could do at home. Even if your home ends up being safe you’ll be glad you had the scan done for the peace of mind that it offers.
Once you do this, take some time to have carbon monoxide alarms installed in optimal areas of your home. These are incredibly important and mandatory in most states, so it’s worth the time to have it installed.
7. Avoid Dangerous Plastics
While plastic is a part of everyday life for most of us, did you know it can be dangerous? BPA has been researched heavily and even linked to an increased risk of cancer. For that reason, avoid buying plastic containers that have BPA in them. You should also try to avoid plastic microwave containers that cook food, as these can put chemicals into everything you eat.
To be extra careful with toxins in your home, also avoid nonstick cookware and utensils, as these are normally coated with Teflon, which contains chemicals that cause an increased risk for cancer. Olive oil is generally a much better option for making your cookware non-stick, especially since it’s all-natural.
Detoxifying Your Home Today
While it might take a while to detoxify your home completely, there are small changes you can make everyday that will contribute to an overall bigger difference. Fortunately this can mean a healthier home, healthier life, and healthier family as well! Try it out to see how you feel and if you notice any beneficial changes after you detoxify your home.
Writer and globe wanderer, who's interests not only take her to distant corners of the world, but also to undiscovered regions of her inner Self. Proponent of the practice of mindfulness, self-compassion, and gratitude, the trifecta of healing and being, to transform her relationship with daily life challenges.
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